IMPROVING SOCIAL SECURITY AND AGE OF NWANGELE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA IN IMO STATE NIGERIA

In this section, attempt is made to review the
existing literature on the aged and factors that are associated with the aged
as a social category. The review will summarize the literature under the
following sub-heading.

1.Historical
perspective of the aged.

2.General
factors associated with social security as a system of improving the aged.

2.1.1The Concept of Aged:

According the Rogers (1979) in every social system,
people are classified according to their age or sex.These distinctions are one
of the bases for the differentiation of social roles in most social structure
and societies are generally classified in line with these category, via
children, youth and aged, however, the author stressed that definition of
people as old is arbitrary and varies from one society to another as well as
from time to time within a given social system.

Therefore, aging implies
chronological advancement in year coupled with physical incapacitation as a
result of “wear and fear” of the body from daily activities. Kessler (1976)
defined aged as the developmental stage in emotional, cognitive and behavioral
aspect of an individual personality.

From this definition, it is obvious to state that for
a person to be regarded as aged, his emotional, cognitive state of mine and
behavioral pattern must have been loosed or pattern less. Although this
definition could be fraught with distortion of reality since the definition of
age goes beyond psychological interpretation, therefore a more liberal
interpretation will be preferred. For bailey (1976), signs of approaching old
age are easily identifiable. For instance the death and degenerative illness of
a relative or close friend approximately of the same age, an increase in aches
and pains. From this definition, provision attempt is shifted to symbolic
interpretation of achieving the states of aged, but the definition is faulty
because the rational for this approach restrictive to sign of actualizing the
status of aged. Palmour (1978) focused on the visible aspect of aging. To him,
physical and individual body does not age in homogenous fashion because it may
decline sooner than others. However, his exposition seems to be interesting but
has failed to include both psychological and social aspect of tracing the basis
of aged he attention on the process of systematically stereotyping and discriminating
against people simply because they are old. They stressed that older people are
often viewed as inflexible in thought and manner senile, and old-fashioned in their
skills and morality. Moron, the scholars equally described ageism as against
people simply because they are old just as racism and sexism applies in relation
to skill colour and gender. However, this expression can also be perceived to
be fraught over generalization since rigidity and senility is not enough to describe
the position of the aged. Hay flick (1984) opinioned that aging cannot be
considered to begin when there is any simple biological change occurrence in
the human, for instance the turning of hair into grey do not seems to prove
that an individual is aging, rather beings when there is a determinant of
longevity and assurance genes cases to function although hayflick has neglected
other ingredients of getting to older stage such as emotional and cognitive
disabilities Rogers (1979), also opined that the aged are discriminates against
in many areas that affect their wellbeing and life style for example, many
employers discriminated against their living and he emption. Also many medical personnel’s
prefer treating the youth than the elderly. Some avoid the elderly by not
feeding them as well as not medicating them. Be that as it may. Oyeneye (1990)
stressed that there is no universally accepted definition of the concept aged.
This is one startsis because there is no universally accepted
criteria for defining certain category of people as old or aged. But it is
pictured that the aged are a social category founded in every human society.

2.1.2
Reasons for Studying the Aged

According to Adegbuyi (1995), one will straight
forwardly said that we study the aged so as to know them find out their needs
and see what can be done to bring their needs to their grip. Butthe author stressed that the answers go
beyond this, although these points make sense, the answers will sound more
scholar if one starts by identifying this group of persons as a social problem.
This group of persons aged the aged have become a problem for studybecause of the following:

1.the growing
population of the aged and

2.the social cost
of the aged and

3.ideological
consideration

2.1.3Cultural Roles of the Aged

John (1985) says in African society, the aged
play significantcultural roles. There
are indeed very functional therefore their cultural roles which are very
essential for the continuity of the society cannot be overlooked. According to the author, some of the roles
played by the elders in Africa society include the following

1.Advisory roles

2.integration role

3.Political role

4.Transmission of
knowledge and skills as well as

5.The religious
role

2.1.4Privileges an Obligate one of the aged in
African Society

According
to Oyenye (1990), prior to the influence of western culture in Africa society,
the aged had several privileges which were associated with their status. One of
such privileges was the right to received obeisance from younger persons who in
some groups squatted or knelt to greet them. He further states that another
privilege enjoyed by the aged was freedom from the criticism of others while
they themselves freely criticized and admonished others,

Furthermore, the aged in African
society had the privilege of sending other persons on errands for themselves.
In addition in societies in which gerontocracy existed, older men especially if
they are affluence or title, had more access to beautiful woman than younger
uninfluential man. Also, the aged especially family heads or elders had
privileged access to motional resources like certain kinds of food and special
portion of meat which was presented first to them before younger persons could
take their shared. Perhaps, one of the greatest privilege which the aged
enjoyed was the expectation that they will be well looked after old age and
that their medical and societal needs will be fully met. However, the author
established that the aforementioned privileges of the aged were accompanied by certain
obligations such obligation include teaching the young and initiated adjudicate
fungi conflicts and guards between family and community members, and counseling
persons in emergencies an crises as well as normal times.

2.1.5The needs of the aged.

According to Leonard (1984), no one ever dies of “old
age” there is no such diseases, all according to the America medical
association. Yet, almost invariably, aging results in physical changes in the
individual. For the author, about 75 percent of the elderly have suffered one
or more chronic illnesses by age 75. among the more common ailments are the
same diseases that affect younger peoples cardiac diseases, hypertension,
asthma, diabetes arthritis as well as the disables usually associated with old
age age-loss of heaving, impartial eyesight, mental disorders, including
senility and disabilities resulting from accidents, particularly falling which
accounts for the hospitalities of percents of the elderly. However, for
clarity, the author categories the need of aged in the following heading
social, economic and psychological.

2.1.6Modernization and the Problems of the aged.

According to Vern and Haber (1978), the impact of
modernization industrialization and the accompanying strong western influence
have brought about changes in the structure of African society. Thus, this
phenomenon has also brought about changes in the structure and socio-economic
functions of the family. In fact, now in African society, the modernization
process is directing attention towards the establishment of European and
America social structure. However, the forgoing have serious implications for
the general attitude toward the aged. Increasingly, people are beginning to see
old age as an age of increasing tension and insecurity. Also, as society terms
to forget or to discount the contribution of its past heroes, so also peoples
are becoming factory about the prospects of growing old. Also the engagement in
work activity far way from home has led to the increase isolation of the aged
and the attention health problems often wrongly attributed to the aging
process. Finally, the neglect or at least, the reduced respect accorded the
wisdom and experience of the aged is increasingly cutting them off from
participation in important interests and activities of the society, thereby
resulting in the loss of the sense of significant membership of the society.
Kimmel (1974) agreeing with the above discussion established that it is obvious
that rather than alleviating the which the aged in African society,
modernization has brought about the evocated of certain problems of the aged in
Africa society did not experience prior to contact with the western culture.

The
author was able to outline the problems of the aged as follows:

1.health care

2.poverty

3.loneliness

2.1.7
Social Security and the Aged

Social security according to Charles (1963) is a
programme of protection provide by social legislation against sickness
unemployment, death of wage earner old age or disability, dependency and
accidents. (Contingencies against which the individual cannot be expected to
project himself). From the definition above, social security is a programme of
protection and helps initiated by public legislations. It is geared towards
proving for the sick, disabled, unemployment and the employed aged and
destitute. Social society is thus a welfare programme. It exists in every society
but differs in coverage, emphasis and even in implementation.

2.2Review of Relevant Theories.

In order to understand the aged and social society, a
review of theories that are relevant in explaining the phenomenon of old age
now becomes necessary.

Age
Stratification Theory

The principal predict of the theory is that every
society has a hierarchy of age sets with each stratum having particular social
determining roles’ duties and privilege.

A major good point of this is the
specification factor in understanding the social standing of and individual
including the aged. The theory is of the opinion that in every society, there
is a role discharged according to age set.

The theory goes
further to say that old age is associated with knowledge and wisdom. Thus, the
number of years a person lives gives him wealth of experience which increases
his wisdom;the aged person knows the law and tradition of his
society which makes him distinguishes.

A major limitation of this theory is the fact
that introduces the aged into the age structure by acknowledgment. This neglect
limit the unit of the theory in the context. It has also been suggested that
the nature of age stratification in modernize societies tend to undermine the
status of older persons participating fully in the social structure.

THE
DISENGAGEMENT THEORY

The disengagement theory propounded and developed by
Cumming and Henri (1961) that it is normal and desirable for people to
withdrawn form society as they grow old.

According to this theory, elderly persons
welcome disengagement since it retrieves them of roles and responsibilities
they have became unable to fulfill. Likewise,
society benefits from disengagement as younger persons with new energy and
skill fill positions vacated by aging individuals.

In our society today, many young people if not all of
them support the disengagement theory,
This is evident in the number of petitions levied against older adults who
though may have reached retirement agefalsity their years as to continue in their jobs. The various saying
that ‘he is too old to continue to
teach,his time and knowledge is absolute,
he should better give way for now hands’ among others, support the view that
younger people see disengagement asa
welcome path for their growth in terms of their career.

The claim that the elderly themselves welcome the
disengagement principle an ordeal way of adjustment renders the theory baseless
this subject to attack. In fact, critics have argued that disengagement theory
merely describes successful theoryaging
as a retreat without seeing the external force behind such a retreat.

THE
ACTIVITY THEORY

The activity theory propounded and developed by Hag Huts
(1961), assumes that activety is the essence of life for the people of all
ages. Activety theory predicts that people who remain active physically,
mentally and socially will adjust better to aging. Proponent of active theory
believes that aging person should maintain the active of their earlier year for
as long as possible. If a person is forced
to give up particular roles or activities it is recommended that these attacked
on the ground or roles be replaced by others.

Although, activity theory is that simply put,it has been attacked on the ground that not
all tasks have the same value for the aged and the value placed on withdrawal
and or disengagement by some elderly people is enough to show that the elderly
the measles need rest whatever be the case, successful aging pick baby requires
a combination of activity and disengagement.

For example, one research found that
the elderly tend to disengage from acuities that are no longer satisfying while
maintaining those that are satisfier.

MODERNIZATION
THEORY

It is necessary to pin point the
main element of modernization theory so as to understand its application. The
distinction between “tradition” and modernization societies was derived from
Marx Weber viaticum parson.

As society called “tradition” is one which most
relationship was particularistic rather than numeral, e.g. based on the ties to
particular people such as kin, rather than general criteria designating whole
case of person also, in one’s feeling rather than objectivity governed relationship
of all sort (the distinction between a destiny and mentality, one which entails
birth ascription) rather that achievement was there general ground for holding a job or
an office areas in which roles were not clearly separated, for instance, the
royal household was also the state apparatus.

Other features general seen as characteristics of
tradition societies include things like low level of division of Labour
dependence on agricultural products low rateof growth of production largely local network of exchange and restricted
administration competence.

A society, according to Samuel Huntington (1970), in
which will the position of all the above was true is said to be modern but, he
went further to say that modernization referred to all the process of
transition from tradition and modernprincipal of all social organization. This theory relates to
industrialization, urbanization and in crease former educational and greater
rationality in social-economic concern.

The modernization theory could perhaps be adopted in
explaining difficulties of the aging process. The modernization theory argues
that industrialization itself determines the state of the aged.

For instance, noticeable crucial aspect of
urbanization and industrialization calls for physical movement from one
location to another which provide the young generation a greater opportunity to
free themselves from the authority of the aged ad leave the elderly lonely with
no one to keep them occupied except same concern neighbors.

In pre-modern societies the function of the aged are
to be viewed as vital social function which in modern societies tend to by
unimportant.

FUNCTIONALISM
THEORY

Murkowski’s pre-occupation was with the study of
culture as a totality. He formulated the theory of functionalism in which
attempts to explain the parts institutions play with in the interrelated the
theory whole of culture Murkowski assumes that culture traits are useful traits
of a society in which they occur, and that the institution or traits of a
culture operate to satisfy the needs of the individuals and that of the society
as a whole in his analysis, culture is the out growth of three kind of human
needs:(1)basic (2)derived (3) integrative. Basic needs relate to the survived
of human beings as biological organisms. This refers to the need for food;
shelter and physical protection Derived needs are the problem of social
co-ordination humans must solve in order to satisfy their basic needs.

This includes the division of work the distribution of
food, defiance, regulation of reproduction and social control. Integrative
needs are needs of knowledge, law religion, magic, myth, art etc.

This theory believes that as a social category and
institution, the aged in African society function to satisfy different categories
of needs of the society.

This is the reason why in African culture the aged are
respect and regarded and their opinions are highly rated in the community. They
are seen as embodiment of wisdom and valuable experiences hence, they serve as
advisors to the young ones and the society at large in critical times. They
also serve as political and religion heads of communities.

They determine the source of any calamity in the
society and find solution to it. These and other function performed by the aged
in African society makes them feel proud and happy to be old. They are honored
to the extend that their views are never question.

In fact, they are seen as next gods who should not be
questioned for any of their action. Consequently, when the aged die, they
become ancestor or living dead and are worshipped with prayers and sacrifice
made to them from time to time.

2.3
Theoretical Framework

From the discussion above the study
adopted MALIMOWSKI FUNCTIONALISM THEORY which is the view that the operation of
social security programme is geared towards satisfying the needs of the aged as
a social category and that of the society as a whole.

Paramount, the theory believes that the
aged as society function to satisfy different category of needs of the society.
This is the reason why in African culture they are respect and renewed and
their opinions are highly rated in every community including Nwangele.

The theory further stressed that the
aged are seen as embodiment of wisdom because of their valuable experience in
society. Thus, they serve as advisors to younger generation and the society at
large especially in critical times. They also serve as political and religion
heads of their various communities.

More so, it is the aged that determine
the source of any calamity in their communities and as well proffer solution to
such misfortune. Therefore, since this category of people are seen as next
sacrifices should not be question for any of their action and they are been
worshipped with prayer and sacrifices when ever they transit to ancestors in
the next, word it becomes function that the government private bodies,
non-governmental organization (NGOs) should imitate programmers such as social
security in order to protect, safeguard and better living standard of this
great people called the “aged”

2.4
Study Hypothesis

The
purpose of this research, the researcher considers it necessary to make some
hypothetical statement that will be tested in this study

(a)There
is no significant relationship between economic situation and improvement of
aged and social security.

(b)There
is significant relationship between economic situation and improvement of aged
and social security.

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH AND METHODOLOGY

3.1Research Design

Niagara (2001) defined a research design as the programmer
guides the researcher in the process of collecting, analysis and interpreting
data. This it demonstrated how the variables of a research would be observed,
controlled or manipulated togenerate
necessary primary data for the study.

As a quantitative research, the study adopts the
survey research design which is seen as a mode of inquiring that combines a
distinct method of data collector with a distinct form of analysis.

They survey designs seen as the test method variable
to the social scientist who is interested in collecting original data and des signing
a population too large to observe directly. More so, the essence of choosing this
type of design is because it is particularly well suited for the study of individual’s
attitudes, feelings and opinions.

3.2
Area of Study

The area
of study is basically Nwangee local government area of lmo state. The local
government is made up of the following communities. Amaigbo lsu, abba Agbaja,
Umuozu, Ummichoke, Umuorla, Elsialaumuozu and Amagu. Geographically, the
Nwangele people are situated in the south eastern part of Nigeria. A
significant number of them is found also in other Igbo speaking states such as Abia,
Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi. The Nwangele people speak the Language of Nwangele called
“lgbo ‘’ and from where their name is derived.

The language belong to the kwa sub family of the Niger Congo language group, with
in the language are found wide range of dialects which differ significantly.

The Nwangele people of Imo state
have many customs e.g. birth custom, death custom, kola nut custom, wine
custom, hunting custom, marriage custom, masquerade custom etc. these custom
are very interesting for example, in kola nut custom, one kola nut can be
broken in such a way that over 100 people present in the ceremony will have a
share each from it.

However, with the arrival of missionaries most
Nwangele people are Christians today “but” there is rarely nwangele Muslim.
Religiously, the Nwangele people are very tolerant, hence the live amongst and
welcome non Christians in their midst. Traditionally, young ones greet the
older ones first as sign of respect. When Nwangele woman meet, they greet
according to time and embrace each other their men shake hands as they greet.
The men are greeted with their titular names. There is no public embracing or
kissing man and a woman in Nwangele, there is no kneeling down nor prostration.
Greet men first unless the woman is
older than the man. But wives re expected to greet husband first whether they
are older than the husband.

Economically, the Nwangele man and
women do almost any type of work. They are very hardworking no matter the category
of work. The economy of Nwangele people is organized around trading and
farming. They are also noted for domestic technology in bronze casting ironwork
and pottery which dates back to the 9th century A.O.

Marriage is a very strong and important
institution among the Nwangele people. This is because it unites just not the
two individuals involved, but also their families. In the typically tradition
pre-colonial era, the first step in marriage take the form of the betrothal of
a girl by an adult on behalf of his son.This usually done when the girls is very young. A man can also betroth a
girl by himself. After this, the prospective husband will begin to occasionally
offer girls both to the girl and to her family. The Nwangele arrangement takes
place in Nwangele where the girls grows into maturity.

This involves the payment of an amount
agreed upon by both the brides’ family and the groom’s family this amount is
known as bride price and it is usually accompanied by other gift items such as
kola nuts, palm wine, tobacco, local gin etc. The presentation of these and the
payment of the bride price is followed by certain ceremonies after which the
girl is usually accompanied by her
relative and age groups to her new home taking alone some house hold utensils
and farm implements which will enable her set up her own home.

In the event divorce which is very none
among the Nwangele people, part or all of the bride price is usually refunded
by the bride’s family depending on the custom. In terms of social,
political and organization of the people, they practice matrilineal descent
system. This means that individuals in Nwangele society trace their genealogy
or descent to a made ancestor.

As a result, they live in small
groups, each being made up of people who have a common male ancestor and each
of the group is called “umunna” politically, Nwangele people are organized an
autonomous village and each village is made up of several king group.

3.3.Scope of the Study:

Considering the nature of the
project and other empirical reasons the study is limited for conference to
available Nwangele communities viz: Amaubo, Isu, Abba, Agbaja,, Umuozu, Amaju
and many others with apopulation of
forty-six thousand, four hundred and ninety three (46,496) people made up of
male and females as documented by the Imo State national population commission
census (2006).

3.4Population of the Study

By research population, we mean the
areas that were concerned in data collection as well as the people who were
involved in responding to the research questions. In the process of carrying
out this project, one hundred and twenty (120) questionnaires were produced and
administered to one hundred and twenty (120) old people accordingly. The
research population was gotten from the area of study Nwangele local government
area of Imo State of Nigeria, and also other neighboring villages within the
area.

The research population was also
gotten from old people home in Nwangele, where the aged are kept by some family
that could not accommodate their aged parents due to certain reasons best known
to them.

3.5Samples Size

In the process of carrying cut this
research project, one hundred and twenty (120) copies of questionnaires were
used.

That is to say that the sample size
is made up of one hundred an twenty (120) persons who belong to the social
category of the aged.

Most of the questionnaires were
actually administered by the researcher due to the fact that most of the
respondents were illiterates and moreover very old.However, some of the questionnaires were administered
by the respondents themselves because they have the ability to do so.

Concerning the illiterates,
questions were translated into Igbo language for easy understanding by the
aged.

3.6SAMPLE TECHNIQUES

In seeking the respondents, the
researcher adopted the accidental sampling technique. This kind of sampling
technique include: anyone they meet on the street. This sampling technique has the
advantage of being convenient, cheap and easy to use .One of the fact is that
the study is focused to a particular segment of the population, that is (the aged
as a group of chart beginning from 65 years and above). The researcher also
added the adjusted sampling technique.

3.7Instrument Data Collection

In the process of carrying out the
research project, the main instruments used in gathering information needed for
this study was the questionnaires interview and existing records which serves
as supplements.

All these instruments play vital
role to achieve the aim and objective of this research.

3.8Data Collection Process

Data for this research started from
July and ended in October, 2011. The major instrument used in the collection of
these data Were the questionnaire.
Interview method and existing records were equally used to supplement the
questionnaire. The questions in the questionnaire were composed of both closed
and opened ended questions. This was employed to collect different opinion and
views of the research respondents.The method is used because it is easy to
control the response pattern. Although out of the one hundred and twenty (120)
questionnaires sent out, only one hundred (100) were successfully returned to
the researcher.

3.9Method of Data Analysis

Since one of the objectives of this
research study is to test some hypothesis in relation to improving the aged and
socials security, it becomes pertinent to state that this study will adopt the
table presentation method to be used in analysis the data, and it will enhance
easy interpretation an understanding of my findings.